Camera Girl

Chapter 4

   The first week of school felt long, but it was finally over. Now that it was Friday which meant I had the opportunity to go into the town and finally take pictures.

   My only concern now is that I still haven't gotten rid of the picture that I found. Instead, it had made its way from my desk drawer to the inside pocket of my blazer. I've been studying his deceitful countenance, which has only put me in a spiral of self hatred of who I was when I knew him- when I was with him...

"Miss Price?" My teacher asked

"Are you okay?" She asked. Everyone was staring at me--why were they looking at me?

   I looked at my hands trembling. I touched my face. It was wet.

   I stared over to the clock. It read 4:30; only 30 minutes left of classes for today. I looked back at my teacher, she was waiting for answer.

   I collected my things, and rushed out of class. I wiped my tears with my hands, and began to walk towards my dorm house.

"Camera Girl, hey. You're out early." I quickly turned around to see Gaige outside of his uniform, while holding a flask in his hand out in the open.

   As he approached closer to me, he got a better look at me.

"Woah, you don't look too well, maybe you should sit down."

   I grabbed the opened flask from his hand. The aroma stimulated my nostrils. I almost held the flask up to my lips, but I hesitated. This wasn't going to help me. I pulled out the cursed image from my pocket and began to pour the contents of the flask over it.

"Gaige, give me your lighter."

"Shit, what are you planning, Camera Girl?"

"Just give me the lighter."

   Gaige sighed, and pulled the alcohol-drenched photo from my shaky hands.

"I'm not going to give you the lighter."

"Why not?" I protested.

"Because you'll only get expelled and possibly fined for starting a fire on school grounds, plus I have a better idea."

"And that is...?"

"You'll find out, but change into something different, It'll get colder tonight. "

   After I was able to calm down in my dorm, I got changed into regular clothes and met Gaige at the entrance.

   While we walked over a couple of blocks from the school, Gaige never said a word about my meltdown.

"Why are you trying to help make me feel better?" I broke the silence.

"I can't be nice?"

"It's not easy to believe that with our previous encounters."

"If I recall, I've never been the one who's called you such degrading things."

"I'm sorry about that." I muttered.

"Excuse me, can you say it louder? I didn't quite catch that."

"Quit teasing, you heard what I said."

   We turned into the parking lot, where a motorcycle rested.

"Oh baby, how I've missed you," Gaige stroked the fuel tank, "C'mon, get on."

"You sweet talk your motorcycle?" I let out a laugh.